I hard is it to replace either the wrist pin or a rod bearing with the engine still in the car?? Should I just drop the whole craddle to replace it that way, or is it possible to do it with the engine in?? Can I just take the oil pan off and do it from there? I know its on cylinder 5.

Thank you.

Drop the cradle, and remove the engine to do the work. You will be able to do a much better job, and have a better chance of getting the gaskets to seal as well. You can have the engine on the floor in a couple of hours.

Is this a hard task to change either the wrist pin or the rod bearing?? Any special tools I might need? I figured I was going to have to drop the whole thing, just so it could be easier to do. I have never changed a wrist pin or a rod bearing before and I really don't want to pay to have this done cause I am sure it will cost me lots of $$

Thanks You.

To change the rod bearings, you need to drop the oil pan and take the rod cap off. This probably can be done in the car if you can get the oil pan off, but it's a messy job. If you have a rod knocking, then there is already damage to the rod and crank journal, so it really needs rebuilt. Changing just the rod bearing won't last long. You'll need a torque wrench for this job in additional to the normal tools.

Changing the wrist pins requires either dropping the crank or pulling the heads off to take the rod/piston out. The wrist pin should be removed and installed by a machine shop since it takes a press. To reinstall the piston you'll need a ring compressor.

What you're talking about doing is a major job. It's much easier to drop the engine out to work on it. The wrist pin thing will just about have to have the engine out. If you drop the cradle, you might as well rebuild the motor right if you want it to last.

EDIT: I'm not sure whether you can pull the piston out from the bottom. The normal way is from the top with the heads off. The ring compressor works the best to install from the top. I would say if the piston(s) need removed, you'll need to pull the heads.

[This message has been edited by batboy (edited 08-06-2003).]